So Sad It's Almost Funny

By now it's become obvious that the obama administration's warnings of the sequester's negative consequences are more hype than reality. Some people, myself included, refer to such statements as lies. But I'm not going to dwell on that now. Instead, I'd like to point out how underhanded and hypocritical those weasels really are. Case in point:

TSA Sealed $50-Million Sequester-Eve Deal to Buy New Uniforms

The impending sequester did not prevent the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)  from acting in late February to seal a $50-million deal to purchase new uniforms for its agents--uniforms that will be partly manufactured in Mexico.

 Gotta rush that through before spending is cut. Can't have the TSA perverts screeners looking shabby while they grope kids in wheelchairs.

Soon after this new investment in TSA uniforms, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned Americans that the lines are already lengthening at airports due to the sequester.

"We are already seeing the effect on the ports of entry, the big airports for example," Napolitano told Politico on Monday. "Some of them had very long lines this weekend."

As we now know, that was a bald-faced lie. There were no delays: "...officials representing a dozen major airports said there were few if any unusual flight delays or lines at security or customs checkpoints."

But back to the uniforms.

The TSA employs 50,000 security officers, inspectors, air marshals and managers. That means that the uniform contract will pay the equivalent of $1,000 per TSA employee over the course of the year.

I can dress pretty damn good for $1000 per year. But it's not that simple.

The TSA provides uniforms to new employees, but requires them to pay for additional clothes out of their own pocket. The initial issue consists of 3 long sleeve shirts, 3 short sleeve shirts, 2 pairs of trousers, 2 ties, and one belt, sweater, socks, and jacket.

So the TSA isn't just simply giving $1000 to each employee. Instead, it's buying a basic set of clothes only for its new employees. Figure a 25% annual turnover rate (probably on the high side, but I'm feeling generous tonight) and that comes to $4000 per new employee. For three pairs of pants, six shirts, and assorted accessories.

Where the hell does TSA shop? Neiman Marcus?

And just to rub salt in the wound, the uniforms are partially made in Mexico.

...TSA said the uniforms will be "manufactured in the U.S. and Mexico."

So we've got a federal agency lying about sequestration's impacts, rushing a purchase order through just barely ahead of the sequester, paying an excessive price for what it's buying, and not even insisting on "Made in the USA" products.

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry...